Ofqual set to Improve Functional Skills’ Quality and Assessment

Ofqual set to Improve Functional Skills’ Quality and Assessment

Ofqual has announced plans to improve the quality of Functional Skills qualifications in order to meet employers’ needs more effectively. Following a recent review, Ofqual released a report last week setting out improvements that awarding organisations are currently making to Functional Skills qualifications. The changes outlined will ensure that the qualifications are high-quality and that standards are consistent.

In particular, awarding organisations will be:

improving the quality of assessments in order to provide more real-life context and allow students to demonstrate a wider range of skills

strengthening awarding processes and undertaking additional monitoring to give greater assurance that standards have been met

working closely with employers and other users to make sure that the qualifications meet their needs

Jeremy Benson, Executive Director for Vocational Qualifications, has stated that the changes should create ‘real and visible improvements’ to Functional Skills assessments making them more relevant and reliable.

David Hughes, Chief Executive of NIACE, who welcomed the work Ofsted is doing to improve qualification quality added that Functional Skills ‘when delivered well, can make a real difference to learners by making learning relevant to them’.